Division 1 Round 21 Review

Dulwich Hill were the main beneficiaries with two wins within the week, backing up after a midweek 3-0 victory over bottom placed Hurstville City Minotaurs, to down Stanmore Hawks 3-1 in the Arlington Oval derby on Saturday night, and consolidate their position in the finals.
After a scoreless first half, the game exploded midway through the second period, with all four goals coming in a 17 minute spell. Stanmore took the lead on the hour, courtesy of a penalty converted by their leading goalscorer, Chavez.
But the ever alert Biviano equalized for Dully just five minutes later, and Paradisis put them in front on 67 minutes. Biviano grabbed his brace with the clincher in the 77^th minute, the win putting Dully in third position on 37 points as they hurdled Stanmore, who remain fourth on 35 points.
At Cook Park on Saturday evening, Mounties FC stayed in the hunt for the semis with a hard fought 2-1 win over fellow finals aspirants, Schofield Scorpions. It was the Scorpions that hit the lead on the half hour, Macrae scoring the vital goal. But Mounties are made of sterner stuff these days, and Provan equalized on 38 minutes, before Noro grabbed the winner in the 53^rd to put the Mounties on 30 points, equal fifth on the ladder with their opponents.
Blacktown Spartans are the third team on 30 points, thumping Hurstville ZFC 4-0 on Sunday afternoon in a one-sided affair at Francis Park. McPherson put the Spartans in front in just the second minute, and an own goal by Hurstville made it 2-0 on 19 minutes. Delaney grabbed the third for Blacktown right on half time, before Todd rounded off the scoring for the home side four minutes into the second period.
Along with the Mounties, Sydney Wanderers are the form team at the moment and have gradually crept up the ladder to be in contention for a finals position.
Last Wednesday evening, they toppled high flying Inter Lions 2-1 at Hajduk Stadium, coming from behind as Burgess put Inter in front after just 8 minutes. Mansueto (18?) and Elrich (60?) got the goals to give the Wanderers the points.
On Sunday, however, the Wanderers missed a great chance to jump into the top five, losing at home 0-1 to lowly UNSW.
Claridge got the only goal of the game, scoring on 44 minutes, to give UNSW only their fourth victory of the season.
In the final two matches of the round, the top two teams in the competition both dropped points to teams near the bottom, complacency probably setting in as their positions on the ladder cannot change before the season?s end.
Hills Brumbies came to Concord Oval on Sunday afternoon, and grabbed a point against second placed Inter Lions in a 1-1 draw. Miller put the Brumbies in front on 52 minutes, before Storey equalized for Inter in the 65^th minute for a share of the spoils.
In a David and Goliath battle at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday, bottom placed Hurstville City Minotaurs held Division One minor premiers and first placed Spirit FC to a creditable 1-1 draw.
Phylactou put the Minotaurs in front as early as the 23^rd minute, and they were heading for a famous victory before Simpson equalized for the champions with a strike on 75 minutes.
So here is the equation for the last round proper scheduled for next week.
Spirit FC and Inter Lions cannot be caught and will finish the season proper in first and second position respectively.
Dulwich Hill are currently third on 37 points, and as long as they avoid defeat against Schofield Scorpions, will remain third.
If Dully lose, and Stanmore defeat Blacktown Spartans, then the Hawks can jump Dully and avoid the dreaded elimination semi final the following week.
But rest assured that Blacktown Spartans and Schofield Scorpions will not lie down, as they are two teams on 30 points in equal fifth spot, and two teams of four still in with a chance of finals football.
The third team on 30 points are Mounties, and they play premiers Spirit FC in their last game, hoping for a win and a spot in the five, praying that the others stumble.
Putting a spanner in the works are Sydney Wanderers, who have the upper hand on all the semi final aspirants, despite currently being eighth on 29 points. The Wanderers will play Hurstville ZSC next Sunday on the last day of the season, but before then, they have a game in hand against last placed Hurstville City Minotaurs, to be played on Wednesday evening at Football NSW headquarters at Valentine Sports Park.
A likely win on Wednesday, and the Wanderers will jump to that elusive fifth spot on 32 points, meaning they will have destiny in their own hands come Sunday afternoon, another win leaving the other teams in their wake.
An exciting end to an exciting season, and typical of the closeness of the teams in Division One, with so many clubs with so much still to play for.
-By Frank Speranza